Legal marijuana debate In Vermont

In 2015, Vermont is expected to become a battleground in the fight for the legalization of marijuana, reports MMJ Observer.

Advocacy groups, and politicians in the region are readying for a big legal marijuana debate next year. Already, pressure groups and lawmakers have several things to cite from the progress in Colorado and Washington State over legal cannabis.

As in most other states across the U.S., opinions are sharply divided over whether or not marijuana should be legalized in Vermont. A group calling itself Sam VT is strongly opposed to the legalization of marijuana in Vermont. They are gearing up for the forthcoming debate in 2015 over legal cannabis.

A study outlining tax issues related to legal cannabis industry in Vermont is expected for release on January 15, 2014. The debate featuring Sam VT against the proponents of cannabis legalization in Vermont is expected to be kicked off by the study by RAND Corporation.

Groups such as Vermont Cannabis, founded by lawyer Carl Lisman, believe that legal marijuana is the way to go. Pro-marijuana groups are excited by the tax, jobs and economic prosperity that are expected under a legal cannabis system.

A market research recently estimated that legalization of marijuana in all the 50 state and by the federal government could make legal marijuana a $35 billion industry by 2020. Still, the industry could be worth about $20 billion if the federal government maintains a ban on cannabis.